(CNN) – An appeal calling on the federal government to allow Texas to "withdraw from the United States of America" following President Barack Obama's re-election doesn't have the support of the Lone Star State's governor, his office said in a statement Tuesday.

"Gov. [Rick] Perry believes in the greatness of our Union and nothing should be done to change it," his press secretary Catherine Frazier wrote in a statement. "But he also shares the frustrations many Americans have with our federal government."

The petition, which had received nearly 65,000 signatures by mid-morning Tuesday, cites continuing "economic difficulties stemming from the federal government's neglect to reform domestic and foreign spending" as the reason for the proposed secession.

"Given that the state of Texas maintains a balanced budget and is the 15th largest economy in the world, it is practically feasible for Texas to withdraw from the union, and to do so would protect it's citizens' standard of living and re-secure their rights and liberties in accordance with the original ideas and beliefs of our founding fathers which are no longer being reflected by the federal government," asserts the petition, which appears on a section of the White House website called "We the People: Your Voice in our Government."

The section was designed to allow citizens to voice their concerns and desires for the federal government, and stipulates that if a petition gets enough support, "White House staff will review it, ensure it's sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response."

The threshold for eliciting a White House response is 25,000 signatures within 30 days, meaning the Texas secession appeal has surpassed the requirements for official administration comment. None has yet been forthcoming.

The fine print notes the White House "may decline to address certain procurement, law enforcement, adjudicatory, or similar matters properly within the jurisdiction of federal departments or agencies, federal courts, or state and local government in its response to a petition."

A host of other states have similar petitions on the "We the People" section of the White House website, including South Dakota, West Virginia, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming, California, Ohio, New York, Delaware, Nevada and Arizona.

None of those petitions were close to the 25,000-signature requirement for a White House comment.

Other petitions on the website take the opposite tack: an appeal to "strip the citizenship from everyone who signed a petition to secede and exile them" had just over 1,000 signatures on Tuesday.

While Perry's statement Tuesday pushed back against a possible move to secede, the Lone Star governor has expressed support for such a shift in the past.

Speaking to an energetic and angry tea party crowd in Austin in 2009, Perry suggested secession may happen in the future should the federal government not change its fiscal polices.

"There's a lot of different scenarios," Perry said. "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."

During his run for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, Perry clarified that he never used the word "secession."

Texas, America's second biggest state in area and population, was its own nation for 10 years before joining the United States in 1845.

In the statement from Perry's office Tuesday, Texas is held an example for the rest of the nation for its fiscal responsibility.

"Now more than ever our country needs strong leadership from states like Texas, that are making tough decisions to live within their means, keep taxes low and provide opportunities to job creators so their citizens can provide for their families and prosper," the statement read.

soundoff(127 Responses)

And then next time a hurricane slams into Texas' coast, y'all are ON YOUR OWN!

November 13, 2012 10:33 am at 10:33 am |

ThinkAgain: All of the GOP's policies are PROVEN FAILURES

So Parry's a flip-flopper? What else is new ... apparently, it's a prerequisite to be a GOP candidate.

November 13, 2012 10:34 am at 10:34 am |

Larry in Houston

truth is : he doesn't speak "publicly" about it – even though he may feel that way . It's mostly all of his "cronies" that is pushing this thing, or agenda. Perry wants to go for his 4th term, so he has to watch what he says, to be quite honest.

November 13, 2012 10:34 am at 10:34 am |

ThinkAgain: All of the GOP's policies are PROVEN FAILURES

To demonstrate your independent, Texas, start by returning all the Stimulus money you accepted – including the millions used by Parry to renovate the Texas Governor's mansions ...

November 13, 2012 10:35 am at 10:35 am |

Airborne

I am glad I do not live in Texas.

Airborne

November 13, 2012 10:36 am at 10:36 am |

Larry in Houston

too bad that we don't have sombody like Ann Richards in politics here in Texas. google her, and you will see that she was the best Governor we've ever had -

November 13, 2012 10:36 am at 10:36 am |

GOP = Greed Over People

Wait, this begs the question, can the rest of us start a petition to kick Texass out of the United States?

They're just afraid the Latinos are about to turn their state from Red to Blue.

November 13, 2012 10:39 am at 10:39 am |

skarphace

"The petition, which had received nearly 65,000 signatures by mid-morning Tuesday."

Hmmm. I wonder how many of those 65k are Texans? I just signed it myself, and trust me I am no Texan.

November 13, 2012 10:42 am at 10:42 am |

rs

Perhaps a few of these "Red-State Radicals" might want to engage their brains on the effects of what they are considering.First, ALL of the states with radicals making these stupid postings are states that TAKE MORE FUNDING from the federal government than they return in taxes.

Sure, these loud mouth bafoons simply expecte everyone else in their state will be thrilled at losing:
Defense
Education funding
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
Highway funding
Veteran's Benefits

and so much more.

Ahh, the price of racism.

November 13, 2012 10:42 am at 10:42 am |

joe

in a few more years those stupid texans will be in the minority . Hope they don't move to my state. Isnt that where that Bo BO kid is ? Maybe they should suceed.

November 13, 2012 10:43 am at 10:43 am |

Sniffit

Oh please. Let them do it...it's only temporary anyway.

Hey Texas, have fun defending your own borders with Mexico!!! And, we're terribly sorry, but you're going to have to negotiate a free trade deal and don't get to start off with one as though it goes without saying. And yes, we'll be checking your IDs at the border, revoking all SS numbers and withdrawing all federal aid, including Medicare/caid and SS from all who remain within your borders. Oh, and all those illegals you couldn't stop with your weekend daycamp pseudo-militia warriors in wifebeaters and Wal-Mart fatigues? Yep, they get US citizenship if you want back in. Eat it.

Within a couple years, TX would (a) vote itself back into the union and (b) be so brown it's blue when it returns. This is a win-win proposition for the country. Let them throw their fit and learn their lesson the hard way.

November 13, 2012 10:44 am at 10:44 am |

Al-NY,NY

GOP = Greed Over People

Wait, this begs the question, can the rest of us start a petition to kick Texass out of the United States?
------–

guarenteed second signature here. Alabama is next

November 13, 2012 10:44 am at 10:44 am |

The Real Tom Paine

Perry used stim funds to retroactively balance his state's budget: now, how does his statement about Texas "...living within it's means" square with that rather inconvenient fact? Once again, the righties prove that reality and truth rarely apply to them anymore. The other question that needs to be asked is whether Chuck Norris signed the petition.

November 13, 2012 10:44 am at 10:44 am |

A Bit Askew

Has anyone asked about how much federal aid money gets sent to Texas, and where they'll be getting it now? Because they can tax their own citizens at a heavier % now, but I don't think it'll be enough.. :/

November 13, 2012 10:44 am at 10:44 am |

Facts don't Lie

I have to live in Texas due to my job and there are some shall I say not too bright people down here. Just look at who Texas elects not only for state and local government but national as well. Maybe if I'm still here when this state turns blue some of the attitudes will have gone away or the nutjobs here will packup and head north to Oklahoma. One can only hope.

November 13, 2012 10:44 am at 10:44 am |

Tom

Good Riddance.

November 13, 2012 10:47 am at 10:47 am |

skarphace

LOL. There is a petition in that list that says "Deport everyone who signed a petition to withdraw their state from the United States of America."

November 13, 2012 10:49 am at 10:49 am |

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

The problem that people don't realize is that where would the funding for roads and other infrastructure come from? They would need more government workers if the state was to become its own country; own departments that deal with other countries and ambassadors there. There would need to be new treaties signed because the ones that currently are in place are base on the US of A.

65,000 signatures out of 25 million and you guys blast away at the entire state? An overwhelming majority of texans are proud to be Americans first.

As for thinkagain, returning stimulus money that the state helped fund is a stupid argument. As for hurricanes, you don't sound like you help anybody. Lots of hate in your heart. I'm sure you have lots of opinions about a lot of people you stereotype. Please don't stop with Texas. Let's hear them all.

November 13, 2012 10:53 am at 10:53 am |

mommytwice

Seriously, what is wrong with that state??

November 13, 2012 10:53 am at 10:53 am |

Rebecca

I believe when the government is a threat "We the People" should have the right to voice our displeasure and take whatever means is necessary to take action without reprisal of those with a different opinion. Is what people do not realize is the government has "dumbed" down the effects of Obama care. None of the people that respond and comment have ever read it. For instance all the Union Workers, did you know that because your employer pays 100% of your health and welfare benefits starting in 2018 you have to pay a 40% "tax" on what your employer pays. So if your employer pays $20,000.00 for your health and welfare benefits you will have an additional $8,000.00 tax. You will see this being set up this year because your employer is required to begin reporting the amount on your W2. Before you deny this fact actually read it! That is the problem PEOPLE are not reading it and the news media is playing it down, I am sure that is on order from the Whitehouse. There are so many more suprises in Obamacare that you will not know unless you read it. I am proud of the people who are screaming for secession, they will not drink the cool aid and they are voicing their opinion, as we all still have a right to do, as of today anyway.

November 13, 2012 11:00 am at 11:00 am |

1nsite

Like Romney said, just self-deport. Then you won't have to deal with Pres. Obama.

November 13, 2012 11:04 am at 11:04 am |

No longer in Texas

I use to work for the State of Texas, and the reason they don't have budget problems is that the majority of the state workforce is getting paid at below poverty levels, and there is no hope for them to get raises unless they move on to the private sector.

November 13, 2012 11:09 am at 11:09 am |

Donna

While reviewing the petitions, I counted 29 states that have filed, four of those states have the required number of signatures. Additionally, at least eight have over 10,000 and the numbers grow hourly. These petitioners have until December 10, 2012 to get the 25,000 signatures. More than half the states in this country filing a petition to withdraw from the U.S. should warrrant a response from the President. These petitions were not started by any organization, but by American Citizens who are speaking for our Constitiution and what it stands for. Our country is supposed to be a democracy, and executive orders continually, and blatantly signed in opposition to the majority of Americans votes is not, in any form, a democracy. We need to think about what these petitions say to us all. This is not about any GOP issue. Look deeper, everyone.